Policy CS7 Open spaces, sport and recreation

The aim is to provide, as a minimum standard, the equivalent of 3.5 hectares of public open space per 1000 population to serve the district's towns and larger villages.

This provision will be supplemented by support for the community use of sports pitches on educational land and by private provision.

There will be a presumption against any development that involves the loss of a sport, recreation or play facility except where it can be demonstrated that alternative facilities of equal or better quality will be provided in an equally accessible location as part of the development.

Improvements will be made to enhance recreation, play and sports facilities within communities.

Outdoor opportunities to improve the physical fitness of all age groups will be enhanced by providing accessible green spaces within our towns and villages, especially where new development takes place, and by creating safe environments for walking and cycling within and adjoining our towns and villages, where access is compatible with environmental designations.

The improvement of play, sports and other public open space provision will be implemented in the following ways:

(a) through the identification of new sites in the Sites and Development Management Development Plan Document

(b) through requiring all new residential developments to make provision for appropriately designed public open space, either through on site provision of new open space or by financial contribution to enhance or create off-site provision and management of public open space (based on a minimum level of provision of 3.5ha per 1000 population);

(c) through requiring all new residential developments on sites of 0.5ha or over to provide appropriately designed informal public open space on site and to include the provision of designed good quality play spaces;

(d) through giving priority to addressing the shortfall in the provision of play spaces designed for children's play and young people;

(e) by creating new designed play spaces for children and young people within existing informal open spaces;

(f) through the protection and improvement of existing facilities, including changes in open space management to address specific community needs;

(g) through securing more community use agreements with schools;

(h) through improving informal leisure opportunities created by green infrastructure within settlements; and

(i) in order to prevent adverse effects on internationally designated nature conservation sites, the Council will work with other local authorities to develop and implement a strategic approach to protecting such sites from recreational pressures, including provision for new and enhanced open spaces.

New open space provision should contribute to wider open space objectives, including enhancing local biodiversity and healthy lifestyles.

Allocations will be made for additional provision of new allotment gardens, to meet local needs identified through community plans.

We will work with the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH), the National Park Authority and other local authorities to develop green infrastructure strategies; and with landowners and local communities to preserve and enhance green infrastructure and green links between open spaces.